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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the FH5 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The FH5 was introduced 14 months after the A550 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FH5 grades vs the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A550

 FH5 A550 
IntroducedJanuary 2011December 2009More modern by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic FH5

 A550 FH5 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A550

 FH5 A550 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH5 features external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the FH5 and the A550.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and A550 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The image here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH5 and A550.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH5 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic FH5 will produce greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer FH5 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography factors
Sony A550 Travel photography factors
71
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
includes focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery (480 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
38
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
bad battery (480 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Sony A550
33
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Also called Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121g (0.27 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 260 shots 480 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $169 $749